In a hearing that drew quiet but sharp exchanges inside Court Hall No....., the Telangana High Court on Tuesday examined whether the State’s Integrated E-Challan System is issuing fines without clearly mentioning the legal provisions behind them. The matter may look routine on the surface, but the bench hinted that such practices could have serious consequences for lakhs of motorists across Telangana.
Background
The petitioner approached the court after receiving a challan for ₹1,235-₹1,200 as fine and ₹35 as user charges-for alleged triple riding on a two-wheeler. His core argument was simple: the challan never mentioned which provision of law he had violated, despite mandatory requirements under the Central Motor Vehicles Act and Rules.
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His counsel cited provisions like Section 128, Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Rule 167-A of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, arguing that fines must align with the 1988 Act because Telangana has not adopted the 2019 amendment. “The bench observed, ‘The violation must specify the exact legal provision. Otherwise, how will a citizen understand what offence he committed?’” the counsel noted while interacting with reporters after the hearing.
The petitioner further pointed out that fines for triple riding are normally between ₹100 to ₹300, and imposing ₹1,200 without citing Section 184 (driving dangerously) was arbitrary. He also complained that year-end “discount drives” on pending challans make the system look more like a revenue-collection exercise than an enforcement mechanism.
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Court’s Observations
During the hearing, Justice NVSK examined the challan placed on record. It showed only “triple riding” and a fine of ₹1,235-without any mention of the legal provision violated.
The State, on its part, argued that offences are compoundable under Section 200 of the Motor Vehicles Act and that fines were notified through G.O.Ms. 54 (2006) and G.O.Ms. 108 (2011). The Government Pleader added that the challan might be categorized under “driving dangerously,” which carries a maximum fine of ₹1,000 under Section 184.
But the bench was not fully convinced.
“The bench commented, ‘Even if we assume this falls under Section 184, how is ₹1,200 justified when the notified amount is ₹1,000?’”
The judge also expressed concern that giving periodic discounts on traffic dues “weakens the fear of legal consequences” and may promote traffic indiscipline in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana. The court suggested that such inconsistent enforcement can confuse law-abiding citizens and embolden habitual violators.
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Decision
After hearing both sides, the court directed the State to file a detailed counter-affidavit explaining the legal basis of such challans and the fine amounts imposed. It also asked the petitioner to check whether the e-challan portal has now been updated to show the exact legal provision behind every violation, as claimed by the Government Pleader.
The matter will be taken up again on 9 December 2025.
The order ended with the court stating that the issue requires deeper examination before any final conclusion is reached.
Case Title: Challenge to Telangana E-Challan for Triple Riding Without Legal Provision Mentioned
Court: High Court for the State of Telangana, Hyderabad
Case No.: W.P. No. 26655 of 2025
Date of Order: 18 November 2025